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Although social distancing measures are beginning to ease, too many restrictions are still in place to allow celebrations for Shavuot to take place at syniguages (synagogues). “One of the main reasons behind the festival: we celebrate the receiving of Torah from God to Moses on Mount Sinai,” says Rabbi Carey Brown from Temple Sholom in…
The Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (VJLS-JH) has the unique distinction of being the only example of confiscated property, including cars, boats, homes, and businesses, that was returned to the Japanese Canadian community at the end of the Internment period during and after World War II. As one of the only physical links…
Each year on May 9, Armenians from Vancouver and around the world will be recognizing Victory and Peace Day, celebrating the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in the Second World War. “It’s a celebration of happiness,” says Serge Maranjyan, owner of Lamajoun, an Armenian bakery/cafe in Richmond which he runs with his family. “People are…
With no plans in place for a 2020 BC Buddhist Festival, Vesak celebrations – the annual holiday of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death – may have to take place from home this year to adapt to the measures in place to deal with COVID-19. The BC Buddhist Festival usually draws large turnouts for the celebration…
Chilean-Canadian bilingual writer Carmen Rodríguez has been nominated for the YWCA Women of Distinction Award this year under the Arts, Culture & Design division for her trailblazing work in the field of literature. Rodríguez spent her early childhood in both the southern Chilean city of Valdivia where she was born in 1948 and in the…
The United Nations celebrates one of its six official languages, Chinese, on April 20th. Chinese Language Day marks the contribution of the Chinese language and culture to world culture. Jia Fei, PhD, a senior lecturer teaching Chinese language and culture at Simon Fraser University (SFU) feels that the Chinese language is special and she hopes…
Shannon Permal recently won the Shakti Award for Volunteering (Youth) for her community involvement this year. “I have become heavily involved with youth-related projects and initiatives through my involvement in a couple of different organizations,” Permal says, speaking of her varied volunteer endeavours. Background Born and raised in Surrey, Permal has roots in the South…
Easter: a time of hopping bunnies and chocolate eggs? Not for the religious communities of Metro Vancouver, who are living it up towards the Holy Week at the end of March with a whole month of special religious services, culminating in the Easter celebration on the 1st of April. The Christian Easter period begins with…
“Do Canadians really find it acceptable that there’s two sets of human rights, depending on whether or not you have a piece of paper in this country?” Lee asks. Documentary filmmaker and Associate Professor at OCAD University, Min Sook Lee, believes the story of migrant workers’ experience in Canada is critical to expose. The Migrant…
To celebrate multiculturalism, the United Nations (U.N.) declared March 20 French Language Day. But why should students learn the language of Molière in a mostly English-speaking society? “Well frankly, at first it was because it was mandatory and I didn’t want to fail Grade 1,” says Michelle Li, a grade 11 student at West Point…
Growing up in England, Lolly Bennett loved to dress up. She and her friends wore “sticky-outies,” brightly coloured clothes, to church every Sunday. “All the neighbours would say, ‘look at those girls, how well they are dressed,’” Bennett laughs. Now Bennett is showing how clothing influences how we view other groups of people. Her new…
The African Arts and Cultural Society presents the Regional Black Canadians Forum, a community forum focused on the International Decade for People of African Descent, from Feb. 6–Feb. 7 at the Greater Victoria Public Library. As Black History Month approached, Founder of Victoria’s African Arts and Cultural Society Pulchérie Mboussi sought the opportunity to enlighten…
Simon Fraser University (SFU) is set to host an event to discuss Esi Edugyan’s powerful book Washington Black. Omar El Akkad will participate in a discussion with Edugyan on Jan. 30 to unpack her poignant coming of age story about a young slave named Wash Black and his journey into freedom and adulthood. Washington Black…
